Rarely does a Division I head coach have an opportunity to build
a program from scratch, unencumbered by history, legend or the direction of a
previous administration.

But that's precisely what UNO had to offer, and in large part why
former United States national track and field coach Ty Sevin seized the opportunity.

UNO Track and Field Coach Ty Sevin

Sevin welcomes the challenge of resurrecting the Privateer's
men's and women's track and field programs. Both were slashed in 2005 as a
result of significant budget shortfalls stemming from the depressed enrollment in
the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Sevin will also coach the men's and women's cross country teams,
both of which were reinstated in 2011, and coached by Ola Adegboye. He will return to his primary role as the
athletic department's chief financial officer.

"We're extremely fortunate to attract a coach with (Sevin's)
background," athletic director Derek Morel said of his first hire at UNO. "Coach Sevin brings a great understanding of
what it takes to be a nationally competitive track and field program and has
experienced great success on every level of competitive track and field."

Since 2007, Sevin has worked for USA Track and Field at its
Chula Vista, Calif. training center. Through
Feb. 2010, he served as the head resident coach, an administrative position, and
since then as its national coach concentrating on pole vault, discus, javelin
and shot put.

In April, Sevin, and his wife Marie, a United States Coast
Guard Lieutenant stationed in San Diego, learned she would be transferred to New
Orleans, her first choice

"I was moving to New Orleans no matter what," said Sevin, a
Cut Off, La. native and member of LSU's 1990 national champion track team. "I'm
thrilled to be coming home."

Initially, after arriving in New Orleans, Sevin planned to focus
on his consulting business conducting lectures, coaching clinics and training
Olympic athletes That was, until early June, when two Southland Conference
coaches informed him of a possible opportunity at UNO.

These coaches "told met that (UNO) was making a push to join
the Southland and would be adding track in order to move back to Division I,"
Sevin said. "So, I called Ola (Adegboye) and he put me with Derek (Morel). The next day (June 13) the job was posted and
I went through the interview process, I'm sure, like every other candidate."

Sevin believes the events that led him to the UNO job proved
it was "meant to be."

"It was the perfect transition, moving from the Olympic
level back to college, which is my passion and what I really want to do," said Sevin,
whose last collegiate head coaching job was at McNeese State from 2005 to 2007,
leading the Cowboys to a top 25 ranking in his final season. "The opportunity
to take a team from scratch is a very good challenge for me."

HIT THE GROUND RUNNING

Sevin, who officially took over the program on July 11,
expects, as he did at McNeese State, to build the Privateers into a top 25
program within his first three years. His top priorities are recruiting, and developing
relationships with the state's high school coaches, laying a foundation for
future classes.

According to Sevin, it's too late to recruit quality
athletes who can begin school in August. The kids who can compete at this level
have already decided where they'll go to school, he said.

Sevin will instead, focus on international athletes and
junior college transfers who could enroll in January 2012, in time to compete
in the indoor and outdoor seasons. His ultimate
goal, however, is to bring in a strong class of high school athletes next
August, he said.

"I want to articulate what UNO has to offer and what a quality
coaching staff can provide," Sevin said about the pitch he'll make to recruits.
"They will get the best coaching anywhere in the country. Our vision is to compete
(for championships) at every level."

Sevin hopes his Olympic credentials, as well as UNO's
dedication to rebuilding and rebranding its athletic department will help
attract the state's top-tier talent, which for years has almost exclusively
attended LSU.

"Typically LSU is the only place where the top kids go," he
said. "We want to challenge that. We think we can offer a quality education and
get them to compete at the national level. We are going to make sure people in
Louisiana know that."

Sevin plans to be settled in New Orleans before departing for
London on July 31. Even though he
resigned from USATF after accepting the job at UNO, Sevin will honor his individual
commitments to coach U.S. Olympians Brad Walker (pole vault) and Kara Patterson
(javelin) at the Summer Games.

However, Sevin will skip the opening ceremonies July 27 to
remain in New Orleans so he can finalize the upcoming cross country season, which
begins Aug. 31, as well as interview potential assistant coaches.

My obligation in the short-term was to be in New Orleans,
working and doing my job at UNO," Sevin said. "But I've committed four years,
and in some cases eight years to these kids. I need to be there for my athletes
who are competing in London. I'm definitely disappointed that I'll miss the
opening ceremony, though."

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